Radeon R9 M390 vs RX 480
Aggregate performance score
We've compared Radeon RX 480 with Radeon R9 M390, including specs and performance data.
RX 480 outperforms R9 M390 by a whopping 131% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 260 | 470 |
| Place by popularity | 89 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 15.86 | no data |
| Power efficiency | 10.21 | no data |
| Architecture | GCN 4.0 (2016−2020) | GCN (2012−2015) |
| GPU code name | Ellesmere | Pitcairn |
| GCN generation | 4th Gen | no data |
| Market segment | Desktop | Laptop |
| Design | reference | no data |
| Release date | 29 June 2016 (8 years ago) | 9 June 2015 (9 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $229 | no data |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
The higher the performance-to-price ratio, the better. We use the manufacturer's recommended prices for comparison.
Detailed specifications
General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 2304 | 1024 |
| Compute units | 36 | no data |
| Core clock speed | 1120 MHz | no data |
| Boost clock speed | 1266 MHz | no data |
| Number of transistors | 5,700 million | 5000 Million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 14 nm | 28 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 150 Watt | no data |
| Texture fill rate | 182.3 | no data |
| Floating-point processing power | 5.834 TFLOPS | no data |
| ROPs | 32 | no data |
| TMUs | 144 | no data |
Form factor & compatibility
Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
| Laptop size | no data | large |
| Bus support | n/a | PCIe 3.0 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | no data |
| Length | 241 mm | no data |
| Width | 2-slot | no data |
| Supplementary power connectors | 1x 6-pin | no data |
| Bridgeless CrossFire | + | - |
VRAM capacity and type
Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.
| Memory type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 8 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory bus width | 256 Bit | 256 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 8000 MHz | no data |
| Memory bandwidth | 224 GB/s | no data |
| Shared memory | - | - |
Connectivity and outputs
Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.
| Display Connectors | 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort | no data |
| Eyefinity | + | + |
| HDMI | 2.0 | - |
| DisplayPort support | 1.4HDR | - |
Supported technologies
Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.
| AppAcceleration | n/a | - |
| CrossFire | + | - |
| Enduro | n/a | - |
| FRTC | + | - |
| FreeSync | + | + |
| HD3D | n/a | + |
| LiquidVR | + | - |
| PowerTune | + | + |
| DualGraphics | - | + |
| TressFX | + | - |
| TrueAudio | n/a | - |
| ZeroCore | + | + |
| Switchable graphics | - | + |
| UVD | + | - |
| VCE | + | - |
API and SDK compatibility
List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | DirectX® 12 | DirectX® 12 |
| Shader Model | 6.4 | no data |
| OpenGL | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| OpenCL | 2.0 | Not Listed |
| Vulkan | + | - |
| Mantle | n/a | + |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark score.
3DMark 11 Performance GPU
3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.
Gaming performance
Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.
Average FPS across all PC games
Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:
| Full HD | 77
+79.1%
| 43
−79.1%
|
| 1440p | 53
+152%
| 21−24
−152%
|
| 4K | 36
+80%
| 20
−80%
|
Cost per frame, $
| 1080p | 2.97 | no data |
| 1440p | 4.32 | no data |
| 4K | 6.36 | no data |
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Atomic Heart | 55−60
+155%
|
21−24
−155%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 40−45
+135%
|
16−18
−135%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 45−50
+150%
|
18−20
−150%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Atomic Heart | 55−60
+155%
|
21−24
−155%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 85−90
+113%
|
40−45
−113%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 40−45
+135%
|
16−18
−135%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 45−50
+150%
|
18−20
−150%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 70−75
+137%
|
30−33
−137%
|
| Fortnite | 207
+283%
|
50−55
−283%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 100
+150%
|
40−45
−150%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 55−60
+157%
|
21−24
−157%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 80−85
+150%
|
30−35
−150%
|
| Valorant | 150−160
+71.6%
|
85−90
−71.6%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Atomic Heart | 55−60
+155%
|
21−24
−155%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 85−90
+113%
|
40−45
−113%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 40−45
+135%
|
16−18
−135%
|
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 285
+105%
|
130−140
−105%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 45−50
+150%
|
18−20
−150%
|
| Dota 2 | 110−120
+72.7%
|
65−70
−72.7%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 70−75
+137%
|
30−33
−137%
|
| Fortnite | 79
+46.3%
|
50−55
−46.3%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 93
+133%
|
40−45
−133%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 55−60
+157%
|
21−24
−157%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 78
+129%
|
34
−129%
|
| Metro Exodus | 41
+128%
|
18−20
−128%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 80−85
+150%
|
30−35
−150%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 78
+152%
|
31
−152%
|
| Valorant | 150−160
+71.6%
|
85−90
−71.6%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 85−90
+113%
|
40−45
−113%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 29
+70.6%
|
16−18
−70.6%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 45−50
+150%
|
18−20
−150%
|
| Dota 2 | 110−120
+72.7%
|
65−70
−72.7%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 70−75
+137%
|
30−33
−137%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 77
+92.5%
|
40−45
−92.5%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 55−60
+157%
|
21−24
−157%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 45
+40.6%
|
30−35
−40.6%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 44
+144%
|
18
−144%
|
| Valorant | 150−160
+71.6%
|
85−90
−71.6%
|
Full HD
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 65
+20.4%
|
50−55
−20.4%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Counter-Strike 2 | 21−24
+133%
|
9−10
−133%
|
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 150−160
+117%
|
65−70
−117%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 37
+185%
|
12−14
−185%
|
| Metro Exodus | 27−30
+170%
|
10−11
−170%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 170−180
+278%
|
45−50
−278%
|
| Valorant | 241
+136%
|
100−110
−136%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 55−60
+168%
|
21−24
−168%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 20−22
+186%
|
7−8
−186%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 45−50
+147%
|
18−20
−147%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 50−55
+141%
|
21−24
−141%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 35−40
+138%
|
16−18
−138%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 30−35
+143%
|
14−16
−143%
|
1440p
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 39
+105%
|
18−20
−105%
|
4K
High Preset
| Atomic Heart | 16−18
+143%
|
7−8
−143%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 10−11
+233%
|
3−4
−233%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 36
+80%
|
20−22
−80%
|
| Metro Exodus | 15
+275%
|
4−5
−275%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 27
+125%
|
12
−125%
|
| Valorant | 120
+155%
|
45−50
−155%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 30−35
+191%
|
10−12
−191%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 10−11
+233%
|
3−4
−233%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9−10
+200%
|
3−4
−200%
|
| Dota 2 | 88
+167%
|
30−35
−167%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 21−24
+156%
|
9−10
−156%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 35−40
+147%
|
14−16
−147%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 18−20
+171%
|
7−8
−171%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 16
+77.8%
|
9−10
−77.8%
|
4K
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 18
+100%
|
9−10
−100%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Counter-Strike 2 | 10−12
+0%
|
10−12
+0%
|
This is how RX 480 and R9 M390 compete in popular games:
- RX 480 is 79% faster in 1080p
- RX 480 is 152% faster in 1440p
- RX 480 is 80% faster in 4K
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Fortnite, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the RX 480 is 283% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- RX 480 is ahead in 66 tests (99%)
- there's a draw in 1 test (1%)
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 22.35 | 9.68 |
| Recency | 29 June 2016 | 9 June 2015 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 8 GB | 2 GB |
| Chip lithography | 14 nm | 28 nm |
RX 480 has a 130.9% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, a 300% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 100% more advanced lithography process.
The Radeon RX 480 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon R9 M390 in performance tests.
Be aware that Radeon RX 480 is a desktop card while Radeon R9 M390 is a notebook one.
Other comparisons
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
